Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Housing Equality Center has produced a new publication to assist medical professionals in providing verification letters for their patients or clients who are requesting reasonable accommodations or modifications. This fact sheet describes what circumstances are appropriate for a housing provider to request a medical verification and provides a sample letter to help medical professionals prepare verifications that are sufficient to demonstrate a client’s disability and disability related need for an accommodation.

HECP celebrated the 51st anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act on April 11th with a reception at the 20th Century Club in Lansdowne. The evening was a celebration of the individuals and organizations, past and present, who have worked to to promote diverse and welcoming communities throughout our region.

A new Pennsylvania state law took effect in December that makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally misrepresent an animal as a service or assistance animal. Violation of this law carries a fine of up to $1,000.

The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania (“HECP”) and a Bucks County resident entered into a conciliation agreement resolving federal housing discrimination complaints against Dublin Village Apartments for violating the disability portion of the federal Fair Housing Act. In April of 2017, HECP was contacted when a single mom with children learned that her lease at Dublin Village would not be renewed. She was never late with her rent and believed the non-renewal was in retaliation for asserting her rights to have an emotional support dog for her disability. Soon after signing a one-year lease at an apartment complex, the complainant

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The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania (“HECP”) and four Delaware County residents with disabilities entered into a conciliation agreement resolving federal housing discrimination complaints against the Valleybrook Homeowners Association (“Valleybrook”) for violating the disability portion of the federal Fair Housing Act. Between August 2017 and February 2018, HECP received complaints from four individuals who live in the Village of Valleybrook in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania. All four requested reasonable accommodations for reserved parking spaces near their units due to disabilities that impaired their ability to walk long distances. The residents were told by Valleybrook that they would not be permitted to

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Under fair housing laws, someone with a disability is allowed to request accommodations to rules, policies and practices in housing or housing related transaction. If the requested accommodation is reasonable, a landlord or other covered housing provider would have to permit the accommodation. For example, a “no pets” community couldn’t refuse housing or charge extra fees for someone simply because they have an assistance animal. Similarly, if someone with a disability needs to make reasonable modifications to fully use and enjoy housing, it would be unlawful for the homeowner, homeowners association, local government or other covered housing provider to refuse

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Under fair housing laws, people with disabilities can request accommodations to rules, policies and practices in housing. If the requested accommodation is reasonable, a landlord or other covered housing provider would have to permit the accommodation. Similarly, if someone with a disability needs to make reasonable modifications to fully use and enjoy housing, it would be unlawful for the homeowner, homeowners association, local government or other covered housing provider to refuse to allow the modification. Covered housing providers are obligated to permit accommodation and allow modifications, when they are reasonable and the Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided

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On July 30, 2014, the Housing Equality Center and the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the builders, owners and designers of The Bordeaux Lofts at the Vineyard at Wagner Farms, a 92-unit condominium community in Bethlehem Township. According to the lawsuit, the Housing Equality Center conducted inspections of the Bordeaux Lofts between March 2012 and May 2013 documenting Fair Housing Act violations that effectively precluded wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments from living in the community. >> Read press release. >> Media coverage in The Express-Times >> Media coverage in The

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The Spring 2013 Housing Equality Center’s newsletter includes articles on a recent design and construction settlement in Lehigh County, historical reflections on 46 years of fair housing laws form the nations oldest fair housing council and recognition of local funders supporting today’s fair housing education efforts. This edition also includes a message from Lisa Gaffney, President of the Board of Directors and an article welcoming new Board members, Nicole D. Cogdell, William H. Hall, IV, Esq., Mark Levin, Esq., and Erin Smist. Read newsletter

On March 7, 2014, the Housing Equality Center and the developers, designers and management of Parkland View Apartments entered into an agreement to bring the 378 unit apartment community in Upper Macungie, Pennsylvania into compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act’s accessibility requirements. Developer Kushner Real Estate Group, S/K Cetronia Associates, LP, Majic Pennsylvania Corp., and Minno & Wasko, Architects & Planners, P.C. signed an agreement that will result in extensive alterations to Parkland View Apartments. The Housing Equality Center will also receive $55,000 to cover a portion of the costs incurred to bring about the agreement. >> Read press

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